Clicking rattling sound from the back seat/deck area

[asianvenom]

Alright everyone, I have this clicking rattling sound in the backseat or deck area everytime I go over small road imperfections, and its driving me nuts. I pulled the rear bench seat, nothing down there to rattle.

Any experience in this please share.
Thanks

[Mayorchuck]

Ski pass thru or first aid compartment all secure? Hopefully your strut tower mounts are not loose. They are a pain to access to take a look.

[asianvenom]

Ski pass thru or first aid compartment all secure? Hopefully your strut tower mounts are not loose. They are a pain to access to take a look.

I already punch out my ski-pass and installed my 18" sub, and yes it's secured. Not first aid kit compartment. Sounds like the seat belt bucklet slapping against something but it's not...its not shock tower because the sound is very metallic rattle...

[racer2086]

Right there with you. I was in the back seat yesterday banging around trying to find this rattle that I've had for months. It would come and go, but now it rattles for EVERYTHING. Sounds like it is in the rear driver's side. I cannot find it for the life of me. I've even been in the back seat and can't find it. This last time, I thought it was the seat belt tongue rattling on that black button thing crimped to the seat belt. It may sound crazy for me to say this, but it is driving me MAD. :eyecrazy

[asianvenom]

This is exactly what I have! I too thought it's the seatbelt tongue, so i buckled all belts and it still clicks...)-;:;#!?_

[iezzif]

Have the same problem. Thought a coin had slipped into the latch. It's the seatbelt mechanism. You have to remove the rear seat assembly and rear shelf to access it.

[board57796]

I have the same issue and I think I've narrowed it down to the hinge for the rear armrest.

[asianvenom]

I have the same issue and I think I've narrowed it down to the hinge for the rear armrest.

I thought it's the armrest hinge too...but it's not. the seat belt assembly behind the seat is very possible...

[Jamespolow]

mine has this squeak to it and its from the same area. when a passenger sits in the back behind the driver the rattle/squeak goes away...

[racer2086]

Have the same problem. Thought a coin had slipped into the latch. It's the seatbelt mechanism. You have to remove the rear seat assembly and rear shelf to access it.

What is it in the mechanism that is rattling? Broken plastics? I just don't understand how it would be making that noise.


mine has this squeak to it and its from the same area. when a passenger sits in the back behind the driver the rattle/squeak goes away...

Yes, I've noticed this too, which is why when I'm back there the rattle is less, and harder to narrow down because I don't hear it as much.

[asianvenom]

Wow turns out to be so many encounter this annoying issue, I thought It just me. So yeah exact symtom as you guys, goes away or lessen when i put someone bqck there to search for the noise, which make it that much harder to hunt down the source.

[racer2086]

Drove the car today and of course the rattle is there. Got out and started banging on the seat back and I can kinda hear the rattle. It sounds like the seat frame is rattling against the metal tab it hooks on. I will try to place some foam on it to see if it goes away.

[nike32]

I too have some annoying sound from the passenger rear, sounds like rear window or like something is not tight enought and moving making a squeky noise..
I am so pissed alredy... I was just like you xD raaage on and smashing all the places trying to hear anything.. but I didnt,only while driving and this happens only when cold..
But I think it may be PDC speaker or rear shelf for me, or the rear window because of subwoofer in the trunk..

[iezzif]

Don't know what exactly is inside the latching mechanism that rattles, but it is the most likely source. I've removed the seat bench and eliminated that as a possibility.

[henrikhahn]

Had the same rattle, and after been through everthing mentioned here (removing seats and whatever other piece I could imagine) I finally went under the car. I found the rattle came from the metal hook that holds the emergency cable in place. This metal hook is mounted in chassis through two small rubber grommets that had disappeared over time. Replace the rubber grommets, put the metal hook back in place in through the grommets, and the rattle is gone. Rubber grommet is a couple of $ each and part number is:
34411102688

[w0w]

Had the same rattle, and after been through everthing mentioned here (removing seats and whatever other piece I could imagine) I finally went under the car. I found the rattle came from the metal hook that holds the emergency cable in place. This metal hook is mounted in chassis through two small rubber grommets that had disappeared over time. Replace the rubber grommets, put the metal hook back in place in through the grommets, and the rattle is gone. Rubber grommet is a couple of $ each and part number is:
34411102688

this is the problem! i took apart my rear seats and deck 4 times trying to isolate the sound and one day popped my head in the trunk through the ski pass and realized it was coming from underneath the car, right above the spare tire well. after looking under the car i saw that metal hook and realized it was sitting loose in its position rattling away. vid below:


https://vid.me/hp6o

[asianvenom]

this is the problem! i took apart my rear seats and deck 4 times trying to isolate the sound and one day popped my head in the trunk through the ski pass and realized it was coming from underneath the car, right above the spare tire well. after looking under the car i saw that metal hook and realized it was sitting loose in its position rattling away. vid below:

Video Link: https://vid.me/hp6o (https://vid.me/hp6o)

Wow this definitely the sound....! You said its under side of the car "above the spare tire well" I will crawl down there when I have a chance...I'll buy you a case of beer if I can confirm this...cheers!!!

[garycw]

Loose wrench in trunk lid tool compartment ??

[racer2086]

this is the problem! i took apart my rear seats and deck 4 times trying to isolate the sound and one day popped my head in the trunk through the ski pass and realized it was coming from underneath the car, right above the spare tire well. after looking under the car i saw that metal hook and realized it was sitting loose in its position rattling away. vid below:


https://vid.me/hp6o

Oh!! That does sound like it!! I replaced those grommets not long ago?!? I'll have to get under and look to see if they fell apart.

[w0w]

i just used a flexible adhesive to fill the holes but will eventually replace it with the grommets now that i know the part number!

[iezzif]

Where is this? Having a hard time understanding what you mean by above the spare tire well. Is it forward of the well?

[w0w]

its a little hard to explain but basically just visualize this area from underneath the car:

http://s10.postimg.org/vvaa0u5jt/IMG_0131.jpg

here is the diagram of the parking brake cable and number 16 is the item in question:

http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/MTMwMTQwX3A=.png

[iezzif]

Thanks for the detailed response! Gonna order them today. Tip of the hat to Henrikhahn for solving one of the most vexing and annoying problems to diagnose!

[iezzif]

Damn!! That's what it was!!!! Can't believe that a wire hanger can make so much noise which sounds like it's in the cabin behind your head. One suggestion. Don't bother with ordering BMW grommets. Too hard to install and horribly expensive. Go to a well stocked hardware store and buy standard off the shelf grommets. More pliable and only costs about 20 cents.

[racer2086]

Can you provide what size you bought. I got under the car yesterday to look at them and they are trashed. The hanger is jammed in the holes, but not very loose. I'm not confident it will solve my problem. ..

[Marjano94]

Hi everyone!

I would like to thank you all for Help.

I have had the same problem in my e38.

I used high temperatured silicon to repair it for a while than i will buy original grommets.

This sound is mostly heard nearby armrest rear.

I thought it is something inside my car but it wasn't.

nowhere in Polish forums is write about it.

Thank you, that sound just drove me mad. Now i can drive my BMW in silience.

Cheers,
Pete

[racer2086]

Had the same rattle, and after been through everthing mentioned here (removing seats and whatever other piece I could imagine) I finally went under the car. I found the rattle came from the metal hook that holds the emergency cable in place. This metal hook is mounted in chassis through two small rubber grommets that had disappeared over time. Replace the rubber grommets, put the metal hook back in place in through the grommets, and the rattle is gone. Rubber grommet is a couple of $ each and part number is:
34411102688


this is the problem! i took apart my rear seats and deck 4 times trying to isolate the sound and one day popped my head in the trunk through the ski pass and realized it was coming from underneath the car, right above the spare tire well. after looking under the car i saw that metal hook and realized it was sitting loose in its position rattling away. vid below:


https://vid.me/hp6o


I wanted to write back to this thread. I had this rattle in the back seat area. It sounded like someone dropped a quarter into the seat belt receptacle and it was rattling around in there -- CONSTANTLY. It drove me nuts. I was sure it couldn't have been that metal clip under the car, since it totally sounded like it was inside the car.

I had replaced those grommets a while back, but I did notice it hanging again while I was under there a while ago. I just got the grommets earlier this week and put them in a couple days ago.

WOW!! That was it! My car is silent again. It is shocking, but totally true, that that metal clip resonates through the car and sounds like the rattle is inside. I had taken the back seats out, ski pass, everything and couldn't get rid of it. But now it is gone!

[ashleymh]

Any chance someone is still able to access this video? Having a similar problem and was hoping to see the video. Says it’s unavailable (I realize it’s been a. Couple years). Thanks I’m advance